Bends sits off the eastern edge of the Cascade mountain range in the high desert landscape of central Oregon. One of my favorite areas in the country to visit and marked by the beautiful Deschutes River that runs through the city. Maybe I should put Bend itself as the focus for this Top-of-The-Heap, but I’ll stay focused on Old St. Francis School as it seems to draw a good chunk of my time during visits (especially in the evenings).
McMenimins Old St. Francis School doesn’t command the acreage of Edgefield, but packs a load of interesting venues into a smaller footprint. The main building originated in 1936 as a parochial Catholic school and the McMenimins’ team has honored this heritage with murals and pictures of characters from the the school staff and legends from the town of Bend. Over the years two adjacent properties have been added, the Art House & Ed house, for a total of 60 guest rooms.
My favorite time of year to visit Bend is late September through October when the evenings take on a crisp fall chill and the many firepits at the Old St. Francis school are stoked and blazing. Below are two of my favorite spots on the property.
Hugh O’Kane’s
O’Kane’s occupies the former garage of the original school, retro-fitted with stained-glass windows from a former Elks Lodge in Portland. The aura can be confusing – am I here to drink or to worship, or a mix of both? Several outside firepits are at the ready and a huge Round Oak cast iron stove sits inside adjacent to the bar. The bar offers food, whiskeys, beer, and cigars. Grab a Terminator Stout and settle in by one of the fires to chat with friends or family.
For the full story on the story of Hugh O’Kane, go to: https://blog.mcmenamins.com/who-was-hugh/
Fireside Bar
I’ve spent many evenings in the Fireside Bar playing cards and shuffleboard while allowing the pace of the night to slow as last call approaches (which is typically by 11 or midnight). Settle into a booth or table in front of the fireplace and see what seasonal brews the clever McMenimins brewers have concocted.
If you’d like to visit go to: https://www.mcmenamins.com/old-st-francis-school
If you’re interested in more on Bend, go to: https://visitcentraloregon.com/cities/bend/
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